False Appearance. While the cactus remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal cactus.
Poison Fruit. The cactus bears between four and eight nectar-filled fruit. A creature can pick a fruit and drink its liquid in a single action. Any creature that drinks the liquid must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or is dominated as if by the cactus's needles.
Regeneration. The zombie cactus regains 15 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Lashing Tendrils. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage plus 15 (2d10+4) necrotic damage.
Needles. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60ft, one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature is dominated by the cactus, as if controlled by a Dominate Person spell, subject to the same restrictions. When a dominated creature dies, it becomes a zombie thrall at the start of the zombie cactus's next turn, and shares initiative with it. A Lesser Restoration, Greater Restoration, Heal, or Wish spell can end the effect of the domination on a creature.
Description
Not all cacti are drab and prickly. A zombie cactus blooms with flowerlike protrusions sprouting four to eight violet berries filled with refreshing nectar. It closely resembles the rare flowering oasis cactus, whose juicy fruit is salvation for lost and thirsty travelers. With this tempting disguise, it draws in its prey, then lashes out with life-stealing tendrils. It dominates them and desiccates them, creating a small army of undying servitors.
Sages believe that zombie cacti were created by defilers and psionics-using slavers, to be used as traps. Ultimately, their creations became uncontrollable, and those cacti that could not be destroyed escaped into the desert.
A zombie cactus exists alone or in a small patch amid several thralls. Sometimes zombie cacti are encountered in pairs. Some have been known to form short-term alliances with creatures that lure prey to them, and a few have been forced into captivity, serving more powerful beings. However, they are difficult to contain and constantly seek the opportunity to escape.
Source: Bestiary of Athas: 5th Edition by Nathan Haslé.
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